From The Treasurer, March 2015 – Roy Fite

Posted on March 10, 2015 by onesimus1

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ! I would like to express my thanks to the Lord for ensuring that our financial commitments to chaplains Peter & Lil were met for another year. Secretary Rozie and I had the privilege of preparing over ninety contribution letters for 2014. The mailings included a letter from Pastor Myers and an annual financial report.
Board Member Phil Taylor is organizing a campaign to strengthen lines of communication with area Churches currently receiving our Jottings publication. The ultimate goal of his campaign is to publish a list on our website OnesimusMinistries.org of our Church partners along with a welcoming contact to be utilized by the men and women of CCP as well as their families to find spiritual homes. Please pray that this endeavor will be a blessing to the partnering Churches and families alike for many years to come. If you would like to contribute information for your Church please feel free to contact any Board Member. A great time to do this would be at our spring banquet which we hope you will all be attending.
Thank you again for your continued financial support which ensures the men and women of CCP have daily access to chaplains Peter & Lil.

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Monday Night Prison Fellowship – Jim Kreider, Leader & Coordinator

Posted on March 10, 2015 by onesimus1

As I look back on the past 36 years of Prison Fellowship meetings in Chester Co Prison, I am very thankful to God for providing faithful volunteers. This Ministry has continued because volunteers faithfully present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every man who attends our meetings. We are grateful to Chester Co Prison for the open door for us to share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus as stated in John 3:16.

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When the Sky is Falling In – Andrew Leatherman

Posted on March 10, 2015 by onesimus1

Tears squeezed out from the young man’s eyes. Then they opened wide in utter terror. “They’re going to kill me,” he cried. “They said they would. They claim that I am a ‘snitch’ and I can’t get away from them!” The young fellow before me was trembling in overwhelming fright. I knew that being a “snitch” was the worst offence in prison, and doubtless this young man was in danger. With intensity, I told him the first thing we do is to pray an emergency prayer. God can help us, I told him.
So we prayed for immediate deliverance. Before I even said my “Amen”, the prison chaplain (Peter Roomet) walked through the room. I called him over and explained the situation. Chaplain Peter asked a few questions of his own, and then made some telephone calls. Within a short time the young man was assigned to another block and officers went to his cell, moved his few belongings to the new cell so he didn’t have to show his face. He was safe!

I am continually awed by the power of genuine simple prayer. When the sky is falling in, what do we do? How easy it is to worry and fear or get angry, but it does no good. But bringing our earnest petitions to the Lord is such a simple solution! He then opens the way to work out the solution He has in mind. With our eyes on the Lord, He is in charge of the results, not us.

The news each day is filled with frightening stories of ISIS. In my mind I see that news picture recently of a group of 15-20 Coptic Christians in Libya lined up on the shoreline, each with his executioner standing beside him. In a short time each one was going to lose his head, literally. Every night I lock my doors because robbers might sneak in. Our home was broken into in the last several years, so I live now with a little more fear than I used to. How unnecessary! Yes, I must take reasonable precautions, lock the doors, drive safely, have suitable insurance; but someday maybe the sky will fall in on me. Then what will I do? My eyes are on the Lord. “I will rescue those who love me and protect those who trust in my name” says the Lord. But it will be His kind of rescue. Even death is not always a defeat. For us Christians, death is a triumphant ending that brings us to the throne of the Father.

Another man, in his early 40’s, was literally brimming with joy as I met him in prison. Only two weeks earlier, through the help of the chaplain, he had accepted the Lord as his Savior. His attitudes and behavior were transformed! It was extraordinarily visible on his face. For 16 years in an upstate prison he told me he had nursed anger, bitterness and resentment. A fellow inmate and a past friend of his in all the bad things they had done became a Christian up there and urged him to do the same. He refused. Year after year he watched that friend; waiting for him to give up his “religion”, watching for the changes to evaporate. But they didn’t, year after year! Upon coming back now to prison after his release, he said to me “I see I cannot make it on my own. On my own I’m a disaster. I need God to be in charge.”

For some of us, we might face a dead end, or we’re driven up a wall, or knocked down, or thrown into a whirlpool of problems and losing our bearings. How are we going to make it? We find ourselves inexplicably getting irritated at everyone, or angry or fearful, or unnecessarily prone to temptations. What are we Christians supposed to do when the going gets rough, when the world falls in on us?

The exciting news is when we let go of our ways into God’s hands, we receive succor in time of need. The comfort of God soothes our souls. How awesome it is to see at those times, when we purposely and deliberately depend on God, that solutions show up that we never imagined could have possible -like my whipping out this Onesimus article when I was sure I had no time or inspiration to do it!

How wonderful our God is! As Scripture says it: “How kind the Lord is, how good he is, so merciful is this God of ours!” Onesimus is attempting to bring this good news to men and women in prison. We on the Onesimus board are deeply grateful for our two chaplains, Peter Roomet serving the men and Lil Anthony serving the women. They know the goodness of the Lord in their own lives and are testifying to that with those incarcerated. They are bringing hope to many, day after day.
Thank you, Lord.

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Monday Night Fellowship – Jim Kreider

Posted on November 22, 2014 by onesimus1

We thank God for the privilege of sharing Jesus in Chester Co Prison on Monday nights. We will celebrate 36 years of Prison Fellowship at the prison this year on November 24. We are grateful for volunteers who continue to minister on Monday nights. We continue to hold two services each week – one for Medium and one for Minimum with average attendance between 30 and 60.

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From The Treasurer, November 2014 – Roy Fite

Posted on November 22, 2014 by onesimus1

Greetings and thank you to all who generously continue to support our CCP Chaplains with prayer and financial gifts.
Fall is “Back to School” time and while reading the Book of Titus I thought of Peter and Lil and the important role they serve as teachers. Teaching the Christian lifestyle which instills self-control, honesty and love, all by the grace of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Paul tells us Titus 3:14 “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”
What a wonderful gift given to the men and women at CCP made available by your support.

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The Power of a Simple Word; Yes

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Vernon Myers

Yes is a simple word, but it carries a lot of power. It is the difference
between an open heart and a closed heart. It is the difference between a lot
of emotional and spiritual pain, and the freeing grace of the good news of the
gospel. Recently I heard a teenager reporting on her recent mission trip about
how God changed her life by the simple word “yes.” She described the difference
between a heart which was saying “no, no, no” and what happened inside
when she said “yes.” She told the story of how her heart change came about.
Her mom wanted her to go on an international mission trip. She said “no” she
did not want to go, and resisted strenuously. But mom and dad insisted she
should go. Finally she consented to go, but it was not because she wanted to
go; it was because she “had to go.”

While on the mission trip she and some other girls were talking about what
faith in Jesus was really all about. She said she finally understood the message
of the gospel—that faith was not about organized religion, but a vital living
relationship with Jesus Christ. Something clicked inside when she said “Yes”
to Jesus. What a moving story of her heart change—saying “yes” instead of
“no.” Her face shone with joy of the Lord. I was moved to tears of joy and
gratitude for the power of a simple word. The power of a simple “yes” opens
your heart to “spiritual truth” – walking in an open, positive, freeing relationship
with Jesus. She will, the Lord willing, live in the continual benefit of
saying “Yes” to Jesus.

The power of the word “yes” is also illustrated in Doug’s life. Doug
Burnette, founder of Onesimus Ministries in 1978, asked for the privilege of
going back to prison as a chaplain with the desire to help other believers as he
was helped while at Chester County Prison. In 1966 Doug found himself in
prison as the result of wrong choices. He knew he needed a lot of help to put
his life in order. When he said “yes” to Jesus, a new way of life opened up to
him. Even after Doug said “yes” to the Lord, he still struggled with temper
issues. But God changed his heart. Two preachers lead Bible studies on
Tuesdays and Saturdays in the chapel. He began to compare what the one said
on Tuesday with what the other said on Saturday. He said, “Thank God, they
both said the same thing.” One of the pastors said to him, “Doug, you don’t
have to live this way.” He pondered the challenge. He asked himself, “What
do I have to lose? If I take the pastor at his word and say ‘yes’ to God’s call to
repentance and grace, and nothing really happens, or changes, then I have not
lost anything. But if I say “yes” to God, asking for the forgiveness and grace
He promises and He ‘changes my heart,’ then I gained a great deal.”

He found the power of saying “Yes.” Doug testifies when he asked Jesus to come into his broken, messed up life, the Spirit did make a very significant change. He said, “For the first time in a very long time I ‘slept like a baby’–no nightmares, just peaceful sleep.” He had been “set free” on the inside, even though he was still in prison. It was the power of saying “yes” to the Lord. He told some friends on the block, “I got saved last night.” Some were skeptical, “Sure you did. The religious experience will soon fade and it will not make any difference in your life.” Doug’s response, “If I do lay aside the Bible and the freedom I found in Jesus, it will be a most foolish thing to do.” Thank God, Doug continues to say “yes” to the Lord.

“Yes” is a simple word, but many times it is hard to say. Hard, you ask. Yes, it is hard to speak because there are forces in the spiritual world which do not want you to say “yes” to Jesus.

There is battle in the spiritual world over the allegiance of your soul. The Devil and his minions want to keep your heart in bondage with a “No.” Jesus very much wants you to say “yes” to forgiving grace. One of Doug’s favorite verses is John 8:32 “You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

Go ahead, say yes to Jesus. What do you have to lose? Nothing but the bondage of “no” which holds you back from the forgiving “…grace of a loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.” Thank you, Jesus, for grace “….that is greater than all our sin.”

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Winter 2014 Jottings – Chaplain Peter

Posted on November 22, 2014 by onesimus1

My name is Peter Roomet and I am the Pastoral Chaplain at Chester County Prison. I am enabled to be at the prison full time under the umbrella of Onesimus Ministries Inc. We have had a chaplain in the county prison full time for over 37 years. This is possible because churches and individuals such as you include Onesimus Ministries in their mission and giving budget.
Every day within the walls of Chester County Prison which number more than 975 inmates, there are hardships, heartaches and broken lives. Each day I enter the prison I step into a very needy society. My responsibilities are to Biblically preach, teach and counsel the inmates toward righteousness in a relation with our Lord so they may become contributors to society as opposed to those who would shred its moral fiber. Also my responsibility is to minister cross-culturally to men of other faith walks so they, too, may re-enter society as productive human beings. This is a demanding position in life and I am blessed to be called to this ministry.
Jesus changes lives, but it takes time to realize the change and practice to get stronger at living the new life in Christ (2 Cor 5:17-21). The crisis of incarceration will not go away unless the people who are arrested learn a new way of living. Call me a life coach if you will, taking on the responsibility of training inmates to become spiritual athletes as opposed to spiritual invalids. I am truly thankful for the privilege of ministering at Chester County Prison and have experienced great joy as many inmates have been able to learn of the love of Jesus and His ability to change lives from sinner to saved and from reprehensible to redeemed. The individuals at Chester County Prison will be returning to our communities someday, but without the presence of someone to help them change their lives they in turn will have a greater negative impact on society.

As you well know, the demands of society can be daunting. The truth about ministry is that it rarely occurs with power unless there is the actual presence of the laborer. For chaplaincy to be effective we must be present as the laborer. Occasionally there is a season of uncertainty as to how I can afford to devote my time to the prison exclusively. Onesimus Ministry has been experiencing very trying times due to the “economy of man” and has been getting through some very trying times due to the “economy of God.” I ask that you help us (the Chaplains) to not be distracted from the ministry due to financial uncertainties by continuing your support of prayer and finances. Praise Jesus for His faithfulness and our trust in Him to provide. I ask for your help in keeping me in the trenches of the County Prison training people in righteousness so they will be able to face the rigors of life anew when they reach the streets of life.
Please contact Onesimus Ministries, (610-932-4429) or myself (610-857-3980), (proomet@chesco.org) to arrange a time that I may share the vision and work being accomplished at your county prison through you and your congregation.

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Winter 2014 Jottings – Chaplain Lil

Posted on November 22, 2014 by onesimus1

“Then the King will say to those on his right, Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom it has been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room,  I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.  Then those sheep are going to say, Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you? Then the King will say, “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:34-40)
In studying these verses in Matthew, I can’t help but reflect on the women inmates at Chester County Prison. Many of the women have been hungry, homeless and have been in prison numerous times. Especially now with the holiday season quickly approaching. They are at a constant struggle with missing family and their children. I find it difficult sometimes to understand what they are going through. Yet, God has given me the strength to minister to the women at this time.
There are 108 women in total at Chester County Prison at this time. On Mondays, I meet with minimum and medium security women for Bible study. I have been reading through Joyce Myers’, “You Can Begin Again.” Many of the women have been thinking about their own lives and the changes that need to happen, not only will they benefit, but hopefully their families can benefit from these changes. On Tuesday’s I meet with maximum security women and read through the same book listed above. Praise the Lord for these types of books that open many hearts and minds to what the Lord will use to help us understand what he wants to do in our lives.
I would ask that you pray for the women of CCP as they go through the holidays incarcerated. May God bless you through the holidays and thank you for your prayers and support.

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March 2014 Jottings – Chaplain Lil

Posted on March 14, 2014 by onesimus1

Ephesians 4:11-12

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelist; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting (furnishing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

I praise the Lord for the twenty years that I have had to walk through the doors of Chester County Prison. The experiences are constantly changing.

The women are faced with many challenges with court cases, family struggles and the general stress of prison life.  They are also worried about who is taking care of their children. They become concerned about health problems with family members and with themselves. I find myself engrossed with helping them sort out these issues. Helping the women put things into perspective has become a major portion of my job. I have received calls at all hours of the day and night, by women ending up in the hands of the police with issues relating to their varying addictions. I have also met with women released from Chester County Prison. Some share their victories and some share their continuing battles. I try to have an open ear just to listen and be persistent to point women in the direction of Christ so they find the answers deep inside of themselves.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. They are deeply appreciated.

In His service,

Chaplain Lil

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Is The Weight of the World Too Much for My Branches?

Posted on March 14, 2014 by onesimus1

This winter has been very brutal as far as the damage incurred from the ice and snow.  So many trees have had their limbs come crashing to the ground from the weight of the elements.  Wires have snapped because of the incredible amount of ice that had formed during the past storms.  Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were without power for up to weeks instead of hours or days.  I would say that is very brutal.

The cleanup from the storms is very dramatic, in that trees are cut up to be hauled away and wires are restrung on the poles, some of which that had been replaced.  All of this is at a great expense to families and communities alike.  If there had been some fore thought to trim overhanging branches away from wires and prune branches that are just too long and large for the tree trunks to support, much of the damage could have been avoided.  After the storms damage had occurred much of this comes to light, but there is still a long period of repair that needs to happen.

So is the parallel of our life experience.  Severe storms may hit at any moment to reveal that our own branches and wires are not strong enough to carry the load and peoples’ lives come crashing to the ground.  The branches may be the arms of life that are stretched way too far and the wire could be our system within, overloaded by work, drugs, alcohol, lust, anxiety or any other life controlling problem.  When people crash and burn from the overload of life this too comes at a great expense to families and communities alike.

There are many people currently incarcerated as a result of not being prepared for the storms of life and they have no idea of how to repair the damage that had occurred from the storms.  As Chaplains we are in the repair and renewal business of broken lives as well as being life coaches for change or pruning [John 15:1-8]. We teach from the Bible instructions for living to help people avoid making the same mistakes again.  Jesus is always available as the husbandman of his creation, able to heal the damaged and strengthen the weak.  This is the message of hope for those who had fallen and the hope for those who may fall.  I believe that the families and communities of the incarcerated will be able to welcome them back as the new and improved members of society, pruned and rewired ready to face any new storms with the strength of Christ and the control of the Holy Spirit.  I pray that you see our county Prison not as a warehouse for people, but as a sanctuary of souls being healed and headed for higher ground.  Thank you for your support toward the storm damage of human lives.

Blessings, Chaplain Peter

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